ON THE NIDIFICATION OF BIRDS. 81 



European bird, but its nest has never been, I believe, seen 

 ill this country. 



The structure of the nests of birds must ever be a subject 

 of interest and admiration; the skill displayed in many of 

 them is truly wonderful, and indicates a considerable degree 

 of foresight and intelligence. 



Waterton, in his Wanderings, mentions the nest of some 

 large Humming bird, similar in texture to tanned leather, 

 with a rim in the inside of it, designed evidently to prevent 

 the eggs, two in number, from rolling out, which they as- 

 suredly would do but for such precaution; the nest being 

 attached to the slender branch of a tree, and moving about 

 with every motion of the wind. 



Our favourite, Thomson, supplies us with many interest- 

 ing traits on this subject ; 



"Some to the holly -hedge 

 Nestling repair, and to the thicket some ; 

 Some to the rude protection of the thorn 

 Commit their feeble offspring : the cleft tree 

 Offers its kind concealment to a few, 

 Their food its insects, and their moss their nests. 

 Others apart far in the grassy dale, 

 Or roughening waste, their humble texture weave. 

 But most in woodland solitudes delight, 

 In unfrequented glooms, or shaggy banks. 

 Steep and divided by a babbling brook, 

 Whose murmurs soothe them all the live long day, 

 When by kind duty tix'd. Among the roots 

 Of hazel pendent o'er the plaintive stream, 

 They frame the first foundation of their domes: 

 Dry sprigs of trees in artful fabric laid, 

 And bound with clay together. 



The Swallow sweeps 

 The slimy pool to build his hanging house, 



e3 



